Is there something you've always wanted to do (and probably could) but just haven't done? This week I was presented with the awesome opportunity to do one of my want-to-but-never-have things: a tarot reading! The lovely Kerry Ward, aka Tarotbella, Cosmopolitan's tarot expert, reached out to me and offered to do a reading for me, and it was eye-opening, filled with wisdom that I definitely needed to hear! Most importantly, it led me to ask the question, Why didn't I do this before? It was something I'd always wanted to try, and could have, but just never did. Like so... Continue reading

“Do not fear failure but rather fear not trying.” Roy T. Bennett Life Goes Like This : what a beautiful, simple, and true piece of artwork The Myth of the "Aha" Moment : reading this really made me think! Relationship Problems? : getting more sleep might be (part of) a solution Byron Katie's 4 Questions : her work changed the way I see the world The Challenge of Not Choosing Sides : how difficult this can be sometimes! Want to Change? : here's the secret to making change actually stick How We Can Break the Cycle of Pain : advice... Continue reading

When many people hear the word "mindfulness," what comes to mind is a serene-looking yogi chanting mantras softly from atop an embroidered cushion. Many people equate mindfulness with meditation — a nice activity to aspire to, but one that, for a variety of reasons (time, cultural expect...

When many people hear the word "mindfulness," what comes to mind is a serene-looking yogi chanting mantras softly from atop an embroidered cushion. Many people equate mindfulness with meditation — a nice activity to aspire to, but one that, for a variety of reasons (time, cultural expectations, etc.), often feels unattainable. Meditation, while it does offer many incredible benefits to those who practice it, isn't the same as mindfulness. Meditation can be a wonderful way to cultivate a more mindful life, and with its rise in popularity in recent years, there are tons of sites and apps to guide those... Continue reading

"The less I fight my fear, the less it fights back." Elizabeth Gilbert Peace Love & Yoga Desk Calendar : a perfect little gift for the yoga-lovers in your life Every Day Matters Video : check out the video I made for the 2018 diaries! :) Life is NOT a Journey : a powerful little video about the meaning of life The G.A.L.E. of Gratitude : check out my article for Kindred Spirit magazine How Pets Can Help with Self-Care : if you have a pet, you know how true this is! 5 Mantras for Dealing with Difficult People in... Continue reading

So thrilled that, for the fourth year in a row, the Every Day Matters Diary is available so you can be inspired, motivated, and enlightened throughout 2018! Working on this project is one of my absolute favorite projects, and it gets better and better with every year that I work on it. It might seem early to think about the new year, but I always find these "ber" months (September, October, November, and December) scoot by more quickly than the rest of the year, so it's never too early to start thinking about how you're going to make the most... Continue reading

"You are what you love, not what loves you." Charlie Kaufman 60 Ways to Show Appreciation : loving this interactive page with gratitude ideas Every Day Matters 2018 : it's sooo pretty in person! get yours + get inspired The Psychology of Self-Deception : just discovered Academy of Ideas + I'm obsessed! It's Never Too Late : a reminder that there's only one true finish line in life Coping with Something You Can't Control? : check out these 40 quotes on change Rejection + the Four Paths : we all face rejection, but this explores how to cope Things Are... Continue reading

“Autumn seemed to arrive suddenly that year. The morning of the first September was crisp and golden as an apple.” J. K. Rowling Everyone Is an Aliebn When You're an Aliebn Too : one of the best books I've read all year 10 Tips that Will Help You Overcome Negative Thinking : these definitely work! What Is Emotional Intelligence? : another excellent video from The School of Life Become Your Own Super Hero : 10 questions to help you take yourself to the next level 3 Things to Know about the Beliefs that Hold You Back : let those beliefs... Continue reading

Last week, I celebrated the seventeenth anniversary of the day I turned 17 (yes, I'm now 34!) by sharing some of the life lessons I've learned over the past year. Like so many of us, I'm always learning and growing and changing, and I really enjoy reflecting on what I've learned over the past year. (I highly recommend doing it whenever you have a birthday. We're often so busy and moving so quickly through life that we don't often pause to reflect on what we've learned, and b-days are a great time to do this!) Without further ado, here's Part... Continue reading

“A self that goes on changing is a self that goes on living.” Virginia Woolf Self-Love with Dani : call + chat with me on Wednesday, August 30 Snack Nation : if you're obsessed with snacks (like I am!) you'll love this 1-800-273-8255 : this Logic music video had me literally in tears How to Dissolve Social Anxiety : the trick is to just do nothing When Acceptance Becomes Truth : inspiring little self-love article The Long Lost Thrill of Doing Nothing : it's one of the best things to do A Sensory Guide to Virgo Season : hooray! it's... Continue reading

It's 2017, and 17 years ago, on Wednesday, I turned 17, making me officially the big 3-4! As I often do on my birthday, I'd like to share some life lessons that I've learned this year (or oldie-but-goodies that've become particularly relevant to me over the past 365 days). Because we're alw...

It's 2017, and 17 years ago, on Wednesday, I turned 17, making me officially the big 3-4! As I often do on my birthday, I'd like to share some life lessons that I've learned this year (or oldie-but-goodies that've become particularly relevant to me over the past 365 days). Because we're alw...

It's 2017, and 17 years ago, on Wednesday, I turned 17, making me officially the big 3-4! As I often do on my birthday, I'd like to share some life lessons that I've learned this year (or oldie-but-goodies that've become particularly relevant to me over the past 365 days). Because we're always learning and growing— at least, we should be — even a year or two ago seems like another lifetime in terms of what I've learned about life, and I find it incredibly useful to write these life lessons lists — not only as potential guidance for others, but... Continue reading

“I have never seen any life transformation that didn’t begin with the person in question finally getting tired of their own bullshit.” Elizabeth Gilbert What's Your Plan Z? : you know, just in case Plan A falls through ;) The Five 15 : I'm obsessed with everything by this amazing brand Get Unstuck and Do the Work : definitely needed this podcast this week When Creativity Is Your Therapy : great interview with Mari Andrew Houses After Dark : dying to get this calming print on my wall I'm Suspicious of Efficiency, and I'm Addicted to It : so relatable... Continue reading

In recent decades, we've seen some wonderful, positive progress in our world in terms of tolerance and inclusion, but we've yet to rid ourselves of the terrible ailment of hate. It is still pervasive in society, especially here in America, and it is causing pain and heartache every single day. Hate is not an inherent human trait. It's not something we're born with. It's something we learn. As Nelson Mandela famously said, No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin or his background or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they... Continue reading

“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” Ralph Waldo Emerson Respond, not React : Tara Brach is so inspiring in this must-watch vid Things Are What You Make of Them : pre-order this book ASAP How to Stay Inspired : because we all know it isn't always easy to do Solitude Is about More than Being Alone : such a great take on this topic Avoiding Life : this Virginia Woolf quote keeps popping up for me... Releasing Judgment : it can such a hard thing to do,... Continue reading

To live your most positive and present life, it's essential that you love who you are. But loving who you are can be quite a challenge at times. Truly conquering self-love is incredibly complex. It’s not just about positive affirmations or breaking up with that guy who treats you like garbage (though those are great starts!). It’s about investigating and assessing every aspect of your life — and continuing to do it all the time, for the rest of your life. When it comes to self-love, we're all works in progress, so I've rounded up some of my favorite reminders... Continue reading

“The only cure I've ever know for fear and doubt and loneliness is an immense love of self." Alison Malee What If What Holds You Back Can Make You Great? : motivating must-read Everyone's an Aliebn : really excited to get my hands on this book! Boost Your Relationship by Getting in Sync : cultivate that connection 12 Stages of Burnout : learn them so you can find ways to avoid them Google Like a Boss : a great infographic of tips for expert googling What May Angelou Taught Me about Paying It Forward : so inspiring Certainty in Uncertain... Continue reading

CC - I'm so happy to hear that this post resonated with you! What a perfect topic to talk about at your Al-Anon meeting on Friday. Letting go is so hard to do, but healthy detachment is essential for what you're going through. I do some work for the National Association for Children of Addiction, which you might want to check out (NACoA.org). The organization focuses mostly on children of addicted parents, but there are some great insights and resources for parents of addicted children as well (and more coming soon!). Thank you so much for reading and for taking the time to comment. It means a lot to me!

Last week Kesha's Learn to Let Go video debuted, and I've had it on repeat for days. The song deals with a topic I used to write about a lot, but haven't touched on lately: learning to let go. We all have things in our pasts that we wish weren't part of our stories. There are things we've ...

Last week Kesha's Learn to Let Go video debuted, and I've had it on repeat for days. The song deals with a topic I used to write about a lot, but haven't touched on lately: learning to let go. We all have things in our pasts that we wish weren't part of our stories. There are things we've done; there are things that've been done to us. When we experience things, especially negative things, it's difficult to let them go. It's human nature to hang on to and remember the bad times — an act of self-preservation to avoid the... Continue reading

"The greatest risk any of us will ever take is being seen for who we really are." Unknown How to Improve Your Mood Right Now : 3 mood-boosting habits We Don't Meet Anyone by Accident : there are various kinds of connections Lorde's Melodrama : been listening to this album on r...

“It is a sign of great inner insecurity to be hostile to the unfamiliar.” Anaïs Nin Do You Need That? : a quick, powerful read that made me think 5 Ways Relaxation Will Make You More Creative : yay for relaxing ;) At a Crossroads in Your Life? : here are 40 quotes that'll calm you Correct Names : a Twitter account that'll make you think (and laugh!) How to Break the Addiction of Negative Thoughts : it's tough, but possible Forwards Always : this looks like a really cool (read aloud) book 3 Questions to Help you Decide if... Continue reading

While moving can be exciting, it's often pretty stressful. For the past few weeks, I've been helping parents pack for an upcoming move, which included my own mini-move because a lot of things they've been holding on to for me had to find their way into my (tiny!) apartment. Because moving is such a mentally, physically, and emotionally taxing experience (and something most people have to go through at some point!), it seemed like a good time to reflect a little on how to make the most of it. Even if you're not in the midst of moving, check out... Continue reading

"The greatest risk any of us will ever take is being seen for who we really are." Unknown How to Improve Your Mood Right Now : 3 mood-boosting habits We Don't Meet Anyone by Accident : there are various kinds of connections Lorde's Melodrama : been listening to this album on repeat 3 Things We All Need to Know about Desire : such an interesting topic! Are You Still Chasing Happiness?: if so, you'll be on the hunt forever Learning to Confront Someone When You're a People-Pleaser : be brave Growth Doesn't Always Mean Bigger / Better / Faster :... Continue reading

Last week I celebrated seven years sober, which is pretty crazy since it seems like just yesterday that I wrote this post: Pick the Weeds, Keep the Flowers: My Year of Sobriety. It's easier now than it was then, but as the Kelly Clarkson sings in the song,"Sober," that inspired that post, "Picked all my weeds, but kept the flowers / But I know it's never really over." As anyone who's sober knows, it's never as easy as it might appear to others. But, even when it's hard, it's worth it. Like most of us, I'm still a self-love work-in-progress,... Continue reading